By our reporter 24.7.2026
Super Falcons playmaker Esther Okoronkwo is set for another good run as the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) kicks off in Morocco on Sunday.
The Super Falcons will open their account with new commers Malawi on Tuesday in a group C tie, and one player that will be the central attraction in the tournament is Okoronkwo whose goals and assists played a huge role in the Super Falcons winning their 10th title, but CAF women player of the year award went to Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak, when everyone had their thoughts on Okoronkwo.
However, Okoronkwo said in an interview with CAFonline, that she was bothered about individual honours but it is all about helping her team to win.
“I am not going into the next tournament because I did not win an individual award. That has happened and is in the past.
“My focus is on repeating history and retaining the trophy. We won the trophy, and that is more important to me than an individual award. If the country is happy, I am happy,” she noted.
Okoronkwo scored from the spot and made the other two goals for Folashade Ijamilusi and Jennifer Echegini in their famous 3-2 comeback win against host Morocco in the 2024 tournament played in 2025.
The 2026 edition will be contested by 16 teams, up from 12 at the previous edition, and Nigeria remain the team to beat with $2m up for grabs by the winning team.
Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu told reporters the first priority for the Falcons is reaching the semi-finals and clinching one of four World Cup places automatically reserved for Africa.
“Our second goal is to defend the trophy and bring it back to Nigeria. We know it will not be easy because every other nation wants to depose us,” he said.
“We have in our possession something precious that everybody else wants. However, we will remain resolute and focused and try to achieve both objectives.”
Nigeria’s other group C opponents include Zambia and Egypt.
